To modify or not to modify [much], that is the question... ish

[S2_Dave]

My previous FWD 20V Coupe was written off by a friend which brought my planned S2 purchase forward . Only had it for a couple of months (cheers quattronutter), but I already love it. Well impressed with this forum too.

With it being in such good original condition from the outset, I'm torn between keeping it relatively standard or modifying it. These cars being the money-pits that they are, any upgrades will be done in stages.

So far I've had a few things from Vagparts.com (great service) and Tim has fitted QR Sport top mounts and wishbone/subframe bushes to tighten up the handling (also a great service - used to look after my 20V). It came with a RS2 FARB. Tim's also fitted a carbon fibre induction kit. A Clifford Cat1 alarm has gone in and the air-con has been fixed/converted to R134a by a local specialist (£650, ouch). Performance increases will definitely be left till the brakes are sorted! Which leads me on to (part of) my search for advice.

I've read lots of threads on here about brake upgrades. I've looked at Tim's 314mm kit that fit's behind original 16s, but now that the 18s it came with have grown on me I'd like to make the most of the extra space. Porsche calipers are my desired option (as many of my upgrades will likely be towards RS2), but many on the forum seem to use A8 323mm discs. I don't want to shave anything off the caliper and I'd like to use two-part discs, so as far as I can make out this is taking me down the route of custom hats and carriers. I've looked at Blitzcat's "Turn 9" kit and think MBT could also offer a solution. I'm not a mechanic, but like to have a go and understand how things work. Does anyone have a kit recommendation for a "tinkerer" and are the RS2 Big Reds the same as the 996tt calipers? Hopefully Martyn can provide some of the bits I need - the £1,900 I was quoted from QST is more than I can spend.

The other part of advice... or maybe opinion, regards paintwork. It's booked in to a bodyshop for a respray. The bodywork is currently quite good, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist and want the stonechips and tiny dinks taken out and the bumpers re-hung. Colour was to remain the original silver, but the bodyshop talked of having a blue pearl or flip in it, to make it individual. I'm not so sure. I'm also not sure about whether to remove the Audi badges below the side repeaters. Although the locks are going, as I want it as secure as possible (best not lose that alarm fob!!). Opinions will be gratefully accepted.

Possible future stages:
1.
Elipsoid headlamps (probably from Germany - can't seem to get hold of Sal)
Car-PC (upper centre console build, so that it can be returned to standard if necessary)

2.
Suspension upgrade (not sure what set-up, moving away from the idea of airbags in favour of better handling - just hate those speed bumps )
Whiteline RARB
Chipped (not too much torque as I understand 3B pistons aren't quite as good as ABY)

3.
EM (probably RS2)
Turbo-back 76mm exhaust, 70mm from rear axle (I think Jamo has this setup and is local to me so may be able to seek a recommendation there)
Blue Samcos (if there's ever another group buy)
Blue SFS water hoses (if Rotoryboy has any left)

4.
Clutch (no idea what type, but something rated well above what I'm likely to produce just in case I lose my marbles and go mad in the future - never say never)
Lightened and balanced flywheel

5.
Intercooler (probably RS2)
7a cams (donated from my 20V)
Turbo (not sure this will be RS2 - I don't want too much lag and can't see myself ever wanting much more than 340-350bhp)
Custom-remap (I gather Mihnea is the man for this!)

No. 5 is likely to cost a small fortune I'd guess. I'm assuming I'll also need to upgrade a lot of internal parts (pistons, con-rods???), injectors and MAF sensor. Will my standard 5-speed be up to it?

Any rough ideas how much I should be looking to budget for each of these stages? Recommended suppliers or uprated options (so long as I won't need a mortgage) will also be greatly appreciated, just in case 350bhp ends up not being enough. Where's that bank manager...

Thanks for any help you can give me.

[rotoryboy]

Let's see some pic's then

[Erikb]

1.You can get the elipsoids headlamps of the german ebay. I believe there is a company which sell them for 420 euro including postage. You can also get them with Xenon, will costs around 1.000 euro. There are few people on this forum which have a pc, touchsreen, build in there console.

2. Most of people go or for the H&R springs with koni shocks, or the H&R cupkit with bilstein shochks i believe a company in germany will sells this kit for around 750 euro.
When you want the car chipped you have to ask s2centrale or Mihnea to do this for you. For the stock internals it will not be a problem.

3 An rs2 em is hard to get hold on,but certainly possible. Tots in Schwiss mostly have them, you can visit them on www.tots.ch. I believe they sell a second hand for about 400 - 450 euro.
There might be a new group buy on the samco kit, you have to ask s2centrale, maybe he has one left.

4. Clutch, cant help you with that. Jeffer can make you a very good lightend flywheel for a good price.

5. The intercooler can also be bought from ebay.de or from tots.ch. If have also seen some being sold on this forum. Just post a "wanted thread"
7a cams you already have, I believe most people nowadays only fit the exhaust cam.
The rs2 turbo is a very good turbo especially for low rev torque and will be good for around 370 hp. You need Mihnea for a custom remap he is the man for this. With this kind of power you have to replace the headgasket and the rod bearing shells for rs2 ones if you have a 3b.

I hope you enjoy your car!

[S2_Dave]

I'll post some pics tomorrow, once she's had a wash.

Erikb, thanks for the pointers... I can foresee at least some elipsoid headlamps arriving quite soon! It's a shame my foreign language skills aren't up to much.

If a RS2 EM might be difficult to come by, what alternatives are there that will do as good a job, if not better?

[porkkis]

You will not find RHD headlights from german ebay. That's for sure.
3B pistons are the same as ABY and ADU (RS2).

And I'd get the samco set aswell but no idea will there be a next GB or not. Paul does not answer my PM nor my mail about the matter.

[Erikb]

As an alternative you could buy several different turbular EM. Jeffer can also make you one. Besides that some people buy the sportquattro EM.

I still have my Samco kit left, havent fitted it yet. I just bought a big IC and going to buy a Garrett turbo and a front IM. Dont know if I am going to fit the kit, if I cant fit all parts. So I might sell the kit.

[porkkis]

To me, right?

What colour is it?

[S2_Dave]

You will not find RHD headlights from german ebay.

Doh! Of course, how dumb of me - they're gonna be LHD. How do the headlights differ? Is there straightforward modifications to convert to RHD or should I just concentrate on looking for a UK supplier? Shame, as a seller on www.ebay.de would deliver to the UK for 420EUR.

[S2_Dave]

Dont know if I am going to fit the kit, if I cant fit all parts. So I might sell the kit.

Blue???

[tekkno435]

You buy the UK spec Lenses to solve the LHD-RHD conundrum and then sell the (new) lenses on German ebay (get some help if German language isn't a strong point).
A tip regarding the CarPuter. An in car computer WILL NOT FIT into the glovebox of a car already fitted with air con without major surgery, Ask me how i know this! On reflection, it would be far better built into a purpose built case under the seat. yes, i know fine well how difficult it is to pull the cables under a car carpet, not one tenth of the hassle of trying to fit a Car PC into a glovebox:-(
Turbo cars aren't too fond of lightweight flywheels unless you are going for killer launches everytime (something i am presently working on, more to follow soon). Aelred is doing a "Clutchnet" clutch kit which will hold together well at high power output and not require Hercules when it's time to dip the clutch.
Personally, the ubiquetous RS2 Calipers (or equivalent) are a good choice along with a set of A8 discs. You can use the SEAT caliper brackets and have them machined or use the original RS2 bracket. Any more and you'll start to get carried away and that £1900 will look cheap!
Finally, to Modify or not? well, if it was an RS2, you would be detracting from it's percieved and real value, an S2 was born to be Modified!

graham.

[S2_Dave]

Ah-ha... and vagparts.com can supply the lenses I think!

Thanks for the tip. I take it your learnt the hard way?!? I had planned on the install fitting behind the dash above the glovebox, using a mini-itx board. I already have a second dash to play with before I attempt to do it for real. Access to the board will be behind the perforated leather trim on the passenger side. Alternatively, it was going to sit under the steering wheel. Currently it's just collecting receipts! Is there a reason why you didn't put your install there, as it seems it has ample space? Are you powering DC-DC or via an inverter?

The flywheel isn't essential, I just thought it'd be appropriate to do it at the same time as the clutch. However, I am definitely keen on uprating the clutch before too much power is added.

Hopefully I'm getting closer to a brake solution using 996 calipers. But I'm really hoping to find two-part brake discs to cut down weight as opposed to the stock A8 discs. I think this probably means custom carriers and hats, but I'd like rotor rings and hats that are relatively easy to source, which is proving a problem.

It's the modified route for me. I've just got to find a bank to rob to continue the inevitable addiction.

[Erikb]

Yep, the kit is blue 3b kit.